The first section of the paper presents historical information about the genesis of the phase of life, adolescence. The analysis shows that the phase of adolescence in all European countries is not only in a process of extension but also of qualitative transformation of its patterns, internal logic and social significance. The second section starts with the hypothesis that young people's experiences of transitions are moving away from traditional normative expectations, because the patterning of youth transitions is becoming increasingly pluralized. From aggregate statistics of the Commission of the European Community, descriptions of changes of patterns in the dimensions of educational training, separation from the family, partnership building, and entry into the labour market are derived. In the final section, we discuss possible psychological and sociological consequences of pluralization and fragmentation of the transition process. The questions raised draw in part on original empirical survey studies, which suggest young people need specific coping strategies in order to synchronize the pluralized and fragmented demands (''structured contradictions'') with which they are confronted.